We have started work on an overhaul of all procedures and processes in Woodlands which means a lot of work – an awful lot of work – but we believe it’s what we have to do to future-proof the business in an increasingly difficult retail environment.
by Antony Begley
It’s never easy to accept things aren’t working out as planned, but that’s exactly what we had to do recently at Woodlands Local as we realised it was more than a few cosmetic tweaks we had to make to future-proof a business being battered by sluggish sales and rocketing costs. The last few weeks have been a good example with a mix of torrential rain and the traditional Falkirk holiday period ensuring both footfall and sales were down on last year while our wage bill has duly risen by several thousands of pounds.
The answer was never going to be working harder to sell a few more bags of crisps, a few more rolls and a few more cans of juice. We know we need a fundamental overhaul of the business and how manage every tiny aspect of the store. It’s a daunting task and the re-planning process has already consumed many man-hours, often late at night with a bottle of beer in hand!
We have split this into three distinct phases:
- In-depth analysis of the business as it stands
- A reworking of the entire way the store is laid out and operated
- The implementation of these plans
The first phase is well underway. We are turning the shop upside down to ensure we understand how every section, fixture and product is performing. We are examining sales by hourly period, by shift, by day, by week and by month. We are collating percentage and cash margins on every line and we are drawing up a list of products that have earned their keep and those that are failing. We will be ruthless. And what we’re looking for at every point is an opportunity to grow profits.
It’s a nightmarish task but we reckon when we’re finished the process we will at least understand the store much, much better. Arguably we should have made all of these learnings by now, but we are where we are and we’ve got to start somewhere.
The first phase will produce a set of procedures that will govern every aspect of how we run the store. From how newspaper returns are handled to how rolls are filled, from how ordering is done to how the hot hold is cleaned, from using the Epos efficiently to logging licensing and hygiene issues. Everything.
The resulting Procedures Manual will probably remain a work in progress for ever as it will constantly need refining and updating. But the Procedures Manual will be the ‘go to’ document for all staff, new and existing.
The goal here is to remove inefficiencies. I believe all our staff work very hard and make the best decisions they can in all situations – but we want the Procedures Manual to prevent them even having to make those decisions.
We will require training, a reworking of the macro space layout and new planograms for each fixture. Every month we will try to keep you updated on how the Procedures Manual is progressing – and the impact it is having.
